Cartridge handling and belt filling machine



De..23,1947. -JQHQwOODBERRY ETAL 2,433,010

CARTRIDGE HANDLING .'AND BELT FILL'IING' MACHINE SMU/mago Dec. v23, 1947. J. H. WOODBERRY ETAL 2,433,010

CARTRIDGE HANDLING AND BELT FILLIING MACHINE Filed Juiy 24, 1942 6 lSheets-Sheet 2 323 3MP/Hm Wnndherry az'z' 11p-A1111. H- Frede-Pink WHnawial-her MMV/WM www@ 6 'Sheets-Sheet 3 :zo /18 l7l/5,6' d4 (J. IH. wooDBERRY 15T/1 V CARTRlDGE-HANDLNG AND BELT FILLIING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1942 Lee IJ; [03 Y .[00

Dec. 23, v1947.

Jnhi-L I-I- Wmudh er1-y Frederick WH0 ewscher IDI lOl

Dec, 23, .1947. J. H. wooDBE'RRY ET AL 2,433,010

CARTRIDGE HANDLING AND BELT F`ILLIING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1942 6 sheets-sheet 5 37 Jul-Ln H Wumherry Frederick W. Hnewacher Dec. 23, 1947. .1 -H. wooDBERRY ET AL 2,433,010

CARTRDGE HANDLING AND BELTl FILLIING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1942 6 Sheets-sheet 6 Fig- 15h El /192 V M f6 Frederick W. Huawiacher fitto/mm Patented Dec. 23, 1947 oARrmeznNDuNGiA/n'entr f FILLING MACHINE 11j The invention"described-herein-may\ be man-u;- factured and used byor fortthe Government .for governmental pur-poses Without thepaym'ent-fto 'Y us offanytroyalty thereon-fzV Thefrpresent invention relatesrtowa .cartridge A. handling and beltloadingmachine?-and parfticularly relates to afrnachinel for aligning rand-g assembling oartridgesi ofdi fferent l types` ein! desired :relationship l@for filling fintoythe fabric or ldisintegratable belts:- Im llingvclo'th 1belts orf disintegratable-beltsf-it is necessary gto. `-useconsiderable Amanual-zulaber1 f and it is among the objects of the present iriyer1 4 tion to provide anautomatic vmeehanisrua-wl'iiclfii Wil-balign; sortrand assemble cartridges ,pa1gticu.- larly of 30' caliber and 50 caliber sizes, andfjsub sequentlyfilll .thema into ycloth-.or disintegratableY belts.'M

ure lombe'ingwa:fragmentaryelevatibnal fview shoWing-thelocation ofstberlosinggates in open A10andclosed-position and Figure) ll being a trans-v verse setional vieW=-showing a controlV screw Witnfoontrolfniembers actuated therebyf Figures .12 to Y14 show -a n arrangementl for removing cartridges from the chute system if Ynot willfrlar-gely eliminatemanual.laborfand-Whih ..15.,preperlyipositioned Figure`112 beingl a -topV plan view-,Figure 13bei r 1ga side l sectional `View-upon the line l3--l3 oFigu-relzand Figure lrbei-ng similar-to` Figurev j13`- showing -how an improperly positioned cartridge mayfbedisehargecl -fromthe Accordingto one preferred embodiment .oftlfe .20, chuterY present@inventionV the. cartridges are .'irst dumped into a rotating cylinder. fromtvhi'eh. they. are ldistributed 'With their noses .foir'iost into chutes leading intobins Ywhich rare"positioned tional` 0yieyv showing 1the `cartridge carrier belt upon-yan. enlarged scale. l

Figureliasis a fragmentary 4side' view of an side" by "side with y"the `bins receiving .respectively'25 alternative carrier-belt' construction.-

ball, ,armor piercinggjinendiary `arid/ori trfc'erf" ammunition inany V. desired order orlrelationslnip. g.

Tlecartri'dges arethenmovedfrinthse bins.. to a oarryin'gbelt which may receiieI th'rclip'sfofl.

into' a cloth beitl In the.drawings-Whichyshowone embodiment-y aceordig 'toi-the" present inyentionza Firell isa side elevationof .a .mechanism showing th'ecartridge sorting, feedingy andflli'g mchanisml. l Figure 2 is 'a top,` plan View. of thearrangemenm shea/ In in Figur-e1.

Figure-'"Zaflis a "fragmentary A.transverse ..sec.`.40 Zlibeifri'g'V ayertical-- sectional View rupon the line i 2l-2lof Figure 19 and Figure 22floeing-v an yendriiithel'ine 2 3 ofFi'gurev 1, 'uponian enlarged .1" scale"as"compared toFigure 1. 45

Figure 6 is a verticalsectional View upon l.the".f50 suchas'ball, inoendiarygarmorpiercing, tracer,-

etfj may' b p'SitIle'd.

Fr'fi theontinuouslylrotating cylinder A the cartridges are transferred past .the gate mechanismB'ivhi'ch'cut'sbff thedischarge of cartridges 55 friirtheL rotating'lcylierA Whena sufficient`AV Figurev 7 isa vertical sectional .iliew pn nthe?- line'l-l of Figure 2 'illustrating the transfer oftthe" 'cartridges from. 'th`e" .cylinder into 'the chutes,"

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional View of the bottom of the bin structure upon the lineV IE-i5- of Figure Figures 1 7 and 18 showthe pusherfmechanisnr a disintegratam'be'lt or from which Itney` may'. -3ov fordtransrferrnathe-cartridges-from thebins tof; be"'subs`eq`ently"'loaded" by vsuitable mhrismfj. the traveling-belt, Figure 1'7v being` an `enlargerl--f endviewof one yof therpusher members-and Figa' ure -lbeing a fragmentary'V sectional :View upon" th line. ls-Y-la ofrigure. r1;

Tl35 liglres' 19to22` show a mechanismfor placing the cartridges in the fabric belt, Figure 19 be-VV ingfa horiaontalsectional-View on 'line l9^l9 of Figure 20,1Figurev 20vbeingf -a vertical s ectionaiz View.-upn-n1-1ine120420v of Figure l19, 'Figure view .of -Ythevsecond pusher arrangement,- the cartridges engagedrand the conveyor belt bein-g Re'ferringtfFig'ures -1, 2 and 3, there is a maint charge or discard means D shown best in Figures 12 to 14, which serves to dischargev and remove cartridges which are not properly positioned when they leave the rotating cylinder A.

The magazine or bin structure E receives the cartridges and holds them in position to be placed upon the carrier belt F.

At the rear of the bins E which form the magazine are positioned the control mechanisms G (shown particularly in Figs. 3, 6, 9 and 11), which will carry the mechanism B to prevent discharge of cartridges from the rotating cylinder A when a sucient supply has been received in the bins or mechanism E.

The pusher mechanism H which is vshown in,

small scale in Figure 6 and in large scale in Figures 4, 17 and 18 is actuated by cam driving means I (see particularly Figures 3, 4, and

From the carrier belt F, cartridges are transferred into the belt loading mechanism J shown in small scale in Figure 2 and in. large scale in Figures 19 20 and 21.

The belt feeding mechanism J will load the cartridge into a nal ammunition belt indicated at K which may receive 250 cartridges.

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 7, the cylinder A may be made from a large piece of tubing or of a series of die cast sections bolted together. In the periphery thereof, there are formed a large number of openings or slots I0, which are of oblong rectangular shape as is more fully shown in Figures 7 and 8. The material at the ends of of the slots is of a thickness about three-fourths the diameter of the cartridge base.

As shown in Figures '7 and 8 the slot opening IIJ has straight sides and the upper and lower edges I5 and I5 respectively as shown best in Figure 7 are cut into cylinder A at an angle of about 30 degrees to the radius, inclined outward and opposite the direction of rotation. The lower limiting edge of the slot at the ascending side of the cylinder is thus at the inner face of the cylinder while the upper limiting edge is at the external face.

The rows of slot openings II) extending circumferentially around the drum A are preferably spaced apart by at least a distance slightly more than the diameter of a cartridge.

Between the rows of openings IG are provided interior circumferential ridges I6 (see Figure 2a) which cause the cartridges to move into the channels I l, Fig. 2a, n'to which the openings IG eX- tend.

As is indicated in Fig. 7, the cartridges X will fall into position as the openings move from the point I8 to the point I9 and a cartridge is shown at position 2! as having fallen into proper position in the opening or slot I0.

From position I8 to position I9 a belt 2! will keep in contact with the lower portion of the cylinder and will prevent any cartridges from falling out through the openings or slots IEI. This be1t`2I is carried by the pulleys 2S, 2li and 25 which are mounted upon the framework 25 and 2l.

As the cartridges X pass above the position I9 those with the nose turned upwardly will fall out in the direction 28 so that they will slide down the chute structure C with their noses foremost.

This occurs since the cartridges properly positioned in the slots I0 upon passing above the position I9 will have a center of gravity a sub- 4 stantial distance outward of the bearing of the cartridge on the edge -of the opening tending to cause them to pivot and fall in the direction 28.

On the other hand, if the cartridges fall in the slots with the noses downward as indicated, e. g., by the dotted lines at 29 in Figure 'I the center of gravity will be inwardly of a vertical line from the nose of the bullet such that the cartridge will tend to fall inwardly as indicated at 35 back into the rotating cylinder A and upon the plate 3| which will guide them to the position 32 so that they do not fall upon and mar or scratch the cartridges at or adjacent position I8.

Plates 33 constituting a diametrical annular partition with central openings 34 may be positioned in the drum at intervals to divide the cylinder A into separate compartments and different types of cartridge may be placed on respective sides of the interior partition 33. The space between two adjacent plates 33 should not be less than the length of a cartridge.

The cylinder A rotates upon the rollers 25 which are supported by the brackets 2l from the base plate 35 and it is driven by the belts 36 which extend downwardly as best shown in Figure 1 to the pulley 3l on the countershaft 38. The shaft 38 rotates in the bearing 39 and is driven by a belt 4I) from the motor 4I in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 in Figure 1. The base plate 35 for the brackets 21 is supported upon the framework 49 which in turn is supported by the verticals 43 and 44 which extend down to the floor 55.

The cylinder A While rotating is held in lateral position by side rollers 46 which rotate upon the pivots 157 and the brackets i8 mounted on the table 35.

The chute structure C is best shown in Figures 2, 4 and 7 and it consists of a series of closely spaced parallel channels 5i) diverging adjacent the cylinder A. These channels are separated at the opening of entry of the cartridge X (see Figure 7) by the downwardly convering side members 5I which deect the cartridge inwardly and downwardly into the channels 55.

If by chance one cartridge falls on another when dropping into the channel and becomes turned so that the enlarged base end is foremost instead of the pointed end, the arrangement D shown best in Figs. 12 to 14 will discharge such cartridges out of the channels 59 of the chute structure C.

This element D (Figs. 7, 13 and 14) includes an opening or slotl 52 in the bottom of the channel 55 equal in width to the diameter of the cartridge base and positioned above the beginning 53 of the slot is the deflector plate 54 which inclines downwardly away from the drum and is mounted adjustably by the screw 55 upon the block 56. The block 55 is mounted by the shoulders 5l (see Figure 12) on the sides of the channel 50.

Figures 12 and 13 show the action of the deflector D* when the cartridge is sliding down through the slot structure C in proper position with the point or narrow portion 58 foremost and with the case or base portion 59 rearmost.

As the cartridge X passes downwardly at relatively high velocity, as is indicated by the arrow 5E), its nose 58 will pass beyond the slotl 52 and the round will then slide on the lower rounded edge 6I of the slot 52.

The momentum of the cartridge X will carry it past the slot 52 even though the base portion 59 may slightly dip into the slot 52 as it passes under the lower edge 62 of the deflector plate 54.

cated by the arrow `6=3fout oithe'chute-strlcf turefC.

InIthistmanner' `animproperly directed cartridge Xrwillbe discarded Vand no reversed rounds willreachthebins ormagazine structure B;

As is best shown in Figures 4 and 6, thelow'er en'ds'fdffthe channels50" of thechute structure C of the bin membersfli'G-i The bins 66 are positioned closelybesideeach other as -indicatedbest in Figures 3 andilf The binsi66-fareprovided with the sidewalls 6l lwhich converge forwardly-toward Veach other as indi'- cated at 68 and terminate at the narrovvest 'for` Wardfportiondso that they approximate in cross sectionthe -outline of cartridge X, which Ahas passed ithereinto from the chute structure C.

Asjshown in-Figures 3 and 4 there are ten 'bins 66`positionedclosely `adjacent to each other with their side Walls 61 in contact and in `one 'desired' arrangement the first four `of these bins from the-left receive ball ammunition, while the th receives -tracer 'ammunition-this pattern is repeated-'forI the next five bins toward the right.

Tolobtain this arrangement of cartridges in the'binsvSS-forrn-ing the magazine structure E, the first 'two rows of vslot-s I0 fof cylinder A toward the right in Fig. 2 andFig. 2a are separated by the internal partition 33 from the remaining slots',` and in'this end of the cylinder A the tracer ammunition is placed.=

. On the other side of the interior plate 33 Vthe ball cartridges are placed. Y

By' referring to Figure 2, itwill be noted that the ball cartridges from the left side of the cylinderA will move down through the first eight channels 50from the left of Figure 2 and will supplyi the `first four bins from the left and also the sixth to the ninth fromthe left with the result lthatthese bins will become filled with ball cartridges; theprojectile portions of which will all loev directed forwardly.

On the other hand, the tracer cartridges from the first two'rows of slots l0 at the right will pass;through the twochannel members 56 on the extreme...right`. 3 Oneechannel member 50a (see Figurexy2) iwill feed the bin 66a at the extreme right, while the other channel member 50h will passyunder channel members for the ball cartridges-leading to bins 2` to 5 and will deposit its tracer.ammunition` in the sixth bin as indicated atithe position 80 in Figure 2.

Thabinstructure 66is best shownA in Figures 3,

4, .5 and-.6 and supported by the structure con-y sisting of the front wall member 10, the rear wall member 12,;sidestructures 83 and the oor 84.

'Ihe-rearedgesof the bin walls 61 t into slots Y 'Il inthewall12.

Thermor-84 at theV bottoms -of the bins is supportedrby Vthe posts 85 from the base 86 (see also Figure 16);` The floor 84 is provided with V- shaped: grooves :8l -under respective bins 66 and which receive thercartridges X (see particularly Figure 16) stacked one above the other in the' manner shown in Figure 6.

Whenan excess number of cartridges is stacked in the bins. 66,: thesafety mechanism adjacent to bin structure 66 as shown in Figures 3, 6, 9, and

1l ,becomes operative. `Asshownbest in Figures 4 and-.6,.the.rear -WalL'IZ of the bin structurels 15.i I'he rodl 2 is pivotally mount ed, as bs s`` wn in `Figure 6 `tin'r anu upper fplate lf3 and h e plate F14, an'dj -it carries'an intermediate l |15.;- -jrheoouar |f| is re'd -inpositifjn on rod- 5Aby the'set screw@ "6. f Th cllar f| 5 has zaioperatirig farm" @member I 'l vflied; y thereon"""(s partilarlyeFigf-Q). The arm H8 of the'mnbi- 1| fha'sjjada e l' |`9-ttachd ltl'ie'l'r'etoby theconn'ectijo'nl"2ill which extend'sthroug'h'the cablecasing|f2|.` r The "cable-"l |"9 Vvact'uates 'the' lgato"struc'tfire'"'bslt" shownnlFigsrS and'9.- 4 Therefis "one plate 'ornosepi-e'c'e t into'eacnbin 66, and the nos'ejport m'ally located a distance -abovefth'e bott Boagbin-suincientwto Vaoconifn rodatej a 1`n feo` l maxim-umnun'rberof roundsthere below binl.- 'Ihnose extends into thebin ya su' distance 4however lto 'engage f thebase 'or zontally disposed or slightly inclined-cartridge `fbhebnr Y The-\axis"ofthe pin |03 jis So'located (Fig 6) above a 11min of partito suing desired. I mweves v andthe radius of the nose point is such'E that when` the desired basef number of Cartridges'is int) ,mathe chamber stacked in 'close vertical' a1inemit 1l the: upper side of the butt lofthe topmost onejjv will be just without the arc of the lower' part-of movement oi' vthe extremity of the nose, but Athe nose'is heldat `a higher position by the weight/of "i fthe` members |06fan'd |08, so'that'aiter the 4ba j' number has "been introduced,v f the lnext' Vcartridge wi1l=depress the nose and will not be abletofmove `j below the radius of the nose and plate '|02, `a j so; either alone; or with a succeeding cartridg Y vill hold-it depressed. I This (through partsli- |019 frees' the pinl |32 from the threads |3| ofi-a' constantly operating screw |30 to be described;so"I thatitlfie latter are notable to hold thel arm |08 i to the right, and the arm |08 willbe free to slideVl f =nt0 the left along the basearm'V |66v underauto'f matic closing operation of a 'gate |28 to be further described,` at fthe gate mechanism B first mnl tioned.- This prevents escape of any more oa tridges from-the' cylinder A tothe chute 50 lead- :;ing to the particular bin in which the operated`v l plate |02is located. A few cartridges; if any-*already in the chute may complete their movement 'f' tothe bin',i'and will remain as dotted in'4 Fg`-`6- until -suiilcient rounds have been removed by-1 i loading operations (as'wil'l be described), whenv they may pass below the nose piece because their pointed ends will' fall when not supported by iinderlying rounds. Y In'the alternative `contact construction shown" uin Fig. 9a (correspondingly functioning partsbeing indicated by the same numerals), the plate |02b having twonose portions |0|a is pivotally' mountearat-s-l con themas@b 'plate s nj (pivoted at |03) which has al stop p'inV 3| 2 to limit: downward' vl .pivotal vmovefnientof the `nose piece-r 02h.'

When cartridges X press on both noses a, then the pin |32 will be released in the manner previously described. Y

The gate structure |28 includes a plurality of swinging gates |22, one for each row of the slots I0 for the cartridges in the cylinder A. These gates 22 are pivotally mounted upon the rods |23 which extend through the bar |24 m-ounted upon the side structures 26.

The pivot rod |23 carries the weighting lmember |26 normally biasing it downwardly in the direction |21 (see Fig. 8) so that the gate |22 and particularly the curved lower portion |28 will tend to extend over and block the outlet of the passing slots I0.

Normally, however, the gate |22 together with its lower portion |28 will be positioned so as not to block the slot openings l0 but permits the free flow of cartridges as indicated in Fig, 7. This will be accomplished by the cable 9 pulling downwardly on the lever |29 which is attached to the end of the pivot rod. |23.

The cable H9 is normally actuated to hold the gate |22 out of such blocking position by the continuously rotating screw |36, shown best in Figure 11 and also in Figures 6 and 9. The screw |30, as best shown in Figure 11, has a series of square threads |3l, which are interrupted, one series being provided for each bin 66. Set in these threads are the pins |32 extending downwardly from the noses |01 of the U-shaped channel members |68 and normally these pins will be moved in the direction |33 by the continuous rotation of the screw |30.

It will be noted from Figure 11, that when the pin |32 reaches the end |34 of the thread |3| it will move into a circumferential annular slot |35 and will be held in said slot drawing the cable ||9 downwardly, and disengaging the gate |22-|28 of Figure 8 through the vertical pivot rod H2, the angle member ||1, and the channel member |88.

However, Where a suicient supply of cartridges collects in any bin 66, the upper two cartridges X shown in dotted lines in Figure 6 will press the nose |6| of the plate |62 downwardly moving the member |65 upwardly as indicated by the arrow |36 in Figure 6 and disengaging the pin |32 of Figure 11 from the groove |35 with the result that the pin |32 will be moved in the direction |31 (Fig. 9) and the gate |22 will move from solid line position to dotted line position as best shown in Figure 10, blocking the outlet of the row of openings I0,

This movement of the gate |22-|28 will prevent further passage of cartridges through the corresponding row of openings I0 with the result that the bins 66 will not again receive cartridges until the cartridge level has dropped below the IlOSe Il.

Normally, with three or less cartridges in a bin, when the cartridges X drop into the bin 66 from the chute G they will have an inclination greater than indicated at the dotted line position in Figure 6, so that their butts will clear the nose |0| of the plate |62.

The pusher mechanism H which is best shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 17 and 18, is driven, as particularly shown in Figure 6, by the shaft |50 and the worm |5| which drives the wheel |52. The wheel |52 is attached to and drives the cam |53 with the lobes |54 and the shoulders |55.

A follower lever |59 is shown having a rounded nose |56 (see Figures 3 and 4) which slides over the contour of the cam turning in the direction |58. The lever |59 is pivotally mounted at |60 and is connected by the pivot pin |6|, link |62 and pin |63 to a bar |64 carrying parallel pusher lingers |65, the cross sectional V-shape of which g, is best shown in Figures l, 1'1 and 18.

These pusher members are connected by studs |66 to the bar |64 and they are of V-shaped cross section as best shown by the cross section |61 in Figure 4, sliding on the Vfloor 84 in respective grooves 81.

Each of these pusher members |65 is provided with a V-shaped groove |68 (see Figure 18), which receives the lowermost cartridge in the bin (see also Figures 4 and 16).

The front of the pusher members |65 are also recessed at |10 so as to clear the primer of the cartridge X as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 18.

To the ends of the bar |64, shown best in Figure ,5, are connected springs |1I which bias the bar in the direction |12 and tend to press the fingers |65 forwardly to move the cartridges as shown in Figure 5 from position |13 to position |14 in the carrier belt structure F.

The springs |1| will cause the follower |51 abruptly to move closer to the center |15 of the cam |53 twice in each revolution of the cam as the follower |51 passes on to the shoulders |55 from the lobes |54. Upon each passage of the follower |56 over the shoulder |55, the pusher members |65 will move forwardly, as indicated at |12, pushing ten cartridges from the V-grooves 81 of Figure 16 onto the carrier belt F.

This arrangement of cartridges X in the bins 66 will be respectively, e. g., 4 with ball, with tracer, 4 with ball, and another tracer.

The carrier belt structure F is shown in small view in Figures 1 and 2 and in detail in Figures 3 and 15.

Referring to Figure 15, the carrier belt consists of a canvas element |86 to which are riveted or bolted as indicated at |8| the U-shaped members |82 at their bases |83. The side flanges |84 of the U-shaped members |82 are provided with the upwardly and outwardly extending flanges |85 which receive the spacer members or bars |86 to support the flange members. The belt as best shown in Figure 2 is carried on the rollers |81 and |88 which are revolubly mounted at |89 and |90 on the supporting brackets |9| and |92 which are in turn mounted upon the base 86.

In the alternative construction shown in Figure |5a, the blocks 32|) have the grooves 32| to receive the cartridges. These blocks 320 are linked together by the links 322 and pivot pins 323. The linked block construction of Figure 15a can replace the fabric belt F and is less susceptible to stretching.

The belt is moved forwardly by the belt filling mechanism which is b-est shown at J in Figures 19 to 22.

Referring to belt filling mechanism, this mechanism is driven by the shaft 298 (see Figure 19) which has bearings at 26|, 202 and 293. The bearings 292 and 283 are mounted on the bases 204 and 205 which in turn are mounted upon the structure member 266.

Adjacent to bearings 202 and 283 are positioned the bevel gears 261 and 208 which are fixed upon the shaft 266 by the set screws 209 and 2|0.

The bevel gear 201 drives the bevel gear 2|| which extends at 2I2 through structure member .8. f The @slider meinberf2sl Srcarries the -Vpusher ;:ftaoting .'the 1 cartridge .and `forcing-its nose from the carrier belt-Finto.:part:engagementwith belt i K and` the morefadvanced 'pusherfmember 222 for; 10i' fconsecutivelyrforcing: homethe cartridge into :the fabric .beltiK The operation and construction .of the'beltllingimechanis'mwis morevfullyishovvn-anddescribed in application: Ser. No;- 418,991;.led November 13,V

rFrom fthe fbin structure? E the-*cartridge will '.f'befadvanced::lbyfthe: pusher structurefH (Fig, 5) `fanditheldrivingmechanism Iinto: the carrier belt ...iF...Fromthecarrier beltF the'belt filling mech- .:.thesslidert member. V r

anism Jwillffeed the'cartridges intothe .fabric belt .Ktin'the manner best. :shown in Figures 19 ..andi'ZOand 21.

When' an 'excessotcartridgesf is received in the vJoin.structurell:asshown.irl Figure 6, the centralfmechanismiG l(Fig. 6) will Vactuate'the gates 56222 :'as-rindicatedrat. Bzin"Figure `lvlto'rcut othe ow of cartridgestuntib the i isupplyfrof"cartridges on Vhand has been decreased by vthel reciprocating 1 member-IH;andrthefcarrier Ebeltc-F.

.f :Itnis ithus' apparent thatfthe"-present-.finvention has provided a beltvloadingmechanismf and a l cartridgehandlingmechanismby which it is pos- .-.andmodi1'ications andlto'enablea better-under? 20 standing. of the:complete-mechanism.

The'pushermember .220 cooperateswith the shuttle member 2.23 i Which fis .l pivotally r mounted at 224 upon the base; plate 225. This shuttle member 223 opens the pockets 226 of the fabric.

belt K enablinginitial insertion. of the nose of the cartridge 2X by `fthe .rear..face 22! of the pusher 220.

Following-'this'. -initi'alainsertiom the carrier belt F and the. .belt K, are advanced one position byg;

"the mechanism to be nowldescribed whereupon the partly inserted cartridge is driven home into final positioninthelcotton beltlby the advanced face-222 of the pusher member 22B.

IThe advancing of the carrier-belt F isaccom-j;

plishedby the fingers 230 whichpress against the .irstcartridge in the carrierbelt F. These push- .er fingers 23%] are pivotally mounted at 23| (Fig.

" 21) onlthe reciprocable member 232, ngers 236 .beingheld down by thespring 233. The member.;

. 232 is pivotally connected at .234 to the link 235 which in turn is connectedat 236 to the bell crank lever 231.

The lever-'23'lrislpivotally-mounted at 238. For

its operation, the portion=i239 of thelever- 231# vhas an'end portion 240-;located'.between.the ad- .justment-screws 2132 and:` 243 which are carried by the up-rights 244 and 245 rigidly erected on the slider 2 I8.

As the slider 28 reciprocates backwardly and forwardly together with the pusher member 22D, it also reciprocates the lever 231 which presses the belt F forwardly through the pusher fingers 233 and cartridge cases. Upon reverse motion, the fingers 23u will pass over the top of the next cartridge while the spring 24S holds such cartridge in position in the carrier belt F.

The fabric belt K carrying the cartridges also is advanced at the same time by the upper stai` wheel 2M and the lower star wheel 228, the lower star wheel being on a shaft turned by Va ratchet member Zeig and the rotating single tooth member 25B.

The upright 25| is provided with a latch hook 252 which holds down the spring member 253 on the cover 254 which carries the upper star wheel 2M as shown best in Figure 2,0.

In operation, the cartridges will be placed in the cylinder A and will move down the cylinder through the openings IS' into the chute structure C. Any cartridge X which may have been improperly positioned will be ejected by the mechanism D as best shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14. The cartridges will then slide down the chute structure into the bin structure E.

.sible to mount the `cartridges in anal ammuni- .ftion belt in-V any order orseoluence` and' position .them in theffabric'belt or without manual intervention by" relatively y:simple automatic .;appara tus.

We claim:

1. A devicetor limiting-:the sta-cking ofy articles vfed from awsupplyipointito .afstacki'magaz'ina in combination," a zgate pivotallyfmounted and-adj acent thepathr'otthe articl'es'loadedto vturn to closing position across:` 'said ipathgfafpivotally mountedlever having a forward armf projecting intothesaid magazinefand adapted to be turned by the" uppermost Jof afstackf'ofl apredetermined number offtarticlesfin .the 'magazine f the Vrearlaterally: extending. f'ledge; I. a ivertically" disposed shaft,^".` a :leveripiveted inlI .xedradial relation to the Yshaft-,fithe: distalifendi nflithe .fsaidillever :being provided 'with'. a: depending pinfoperative connection between the saidslfiaftandthe'said gate, ai constantlyiretaltingshaft p'roi'lided'iwitl'i`V a screw thread` receiving the' saiddepending "-pin' when whereby thelev'erlland'its.saidlvertical shaft are 'turned in ai direction tdlm'a'intain the said counterweighted gate in: open 1 position,the' distal end ofthe pinned lever overlying th'e's'aid lateralledge of fthermafgazine Eleveriwhereby the said# pinned .ilever isl-raised bythe'fsaid'turningof ythe magazine lever to lift said pin from the said screw thread, permitting the counterweight to turn the gate to closing position.

2. A device for stacking a predetermined number of articles fed from a supply point to a magazine, in combination, a gate pivotally mounted at the said supply point and loaded to turn to closing position, a pivotally mounted lever having a forward arm projecting into the said magazine and adapted to be turned by a stack. of the said predetermined number of articles, the rearward arm of the said lever being provided with a laterally extending ledge, a lever mounted for turning in the plane of the said ledge and also normal thereto, the distal end of the said lever being provided with a depending pin, an operative connection between the said lever and the said gate, a constantly rotating shaft provided with a screw thread receiving the said depending pin whereby the said lever is turned in a direction to maintain the said counterweighted gate in open position, the distal end of the said lever overlying the said lateral edge of the magazine lever whereby the said lever is raised by the said turning of the magazine lever to lift its said dependent pin from the said screw thread, permitting the counterweight to turn the gate to closing position.

3. In a machine for loading cartridges into belts, a hopper adapted to hold cartridges in stacked relation and having a lateral discharge opening at the lower part, e, belt device having transverse pockets therein, means to move the belt past the discharge opening of the hopper in cartridge receiving relation thereto, means to transfer the lowermost cartridge from the hopper to the belt device, means to orientate and deliver cartridges to the hopper, and means to stop said delivery including an operating means responsive to a cartridge in excess of e, predetermined number of cartridges in the hopper.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the operating means includes a lever pivoted outwardly of the bases of cartridges in the hopper and adjacent the uppermost level to which it is desired to ll said hopper, said lever having an arm extending into the hopper and movable in line with the direction of movement of the cartridges through the hopper, its extremity being movable in an arc from above and inward of the butt of the cartridge at said level downward close to and outwardly of the top of the uppermost cartridge at the stack in the hopper, and a member operatively connected to the lever and movable thereby across the pathv of cartridges from said means to deliver cartridges to the hopper, said means constructed to tend to move clear of said path.

5. In a machine of the character described, a

magazine for stacked cartridges, cartridge feeding means for feeding cartridges in succession to the top of the magazine, feed stop means operable to stop feeding of cartridges by said cartridge feeding means including means in said magazine responsive to entry of a cartridge in excess of a predetermined number in the magazine at any one time constructed and arranged to operate thc said feed stop means.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the said feed stop means includes a spring loaded vertically movable finger projecting into the said magazine constructed and arranged to be engaged by and yield to passing cartridges entering the magazine so as to clear cartridges fed into the magazine when such cartridges move below a predetermined level and so that said finger will be moved and held at a lowered position by the uppermost cartridgeof a stack in the magazine at said level or immediately thereabove, a gate device being included in said feed stop means, located adjacent and movable into the path of cartridges in` course of movement by said cartridge feeding means, and operative connections between said finger and said gate device to move the latter across said path on operation of the nger by said uppermost cartridge.

7. In a machine for the purpose described, a cartridge feeding means, a magazine in receiving relation to the said feeding means constructed to receive and support a plurality of cartridges in stacked relation one above another therein, a cut-off device for the said feeding means movable to cut-off position in the path of cartridges in the said feeding means, means to hold the cut-oi device normally at a clear position to permit movement of cartridges in said path, and operating means in said magazine connected to the cut-01T device engageable by entering cartridges and responsive to the entry of a cartridge tothe magazine in excess of a predetermined number, to move said cut-oir device to said cut-oil position.

JOHN H. 'WOODBERRY- FREDERICK WV. HOEWISCHIER,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 952,477 -Stillwcll Mar. 22, 1910 1,195,054 McLeod Aug. 15, 1916 1,325,339 Swasey Dec. 16, 1919 1,377,395 Calleson May 10, 1921 1,388,065 Schmitz Aug. 16, 1921 1,395,928 Northover Nov. 1, 1921 1,408,497 Bragdon Mar. 7, 1922 2,123,915 Rodler July 19, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 57,327 Denmark Feb. 26, 1940 539,184 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1941 

